Bikram Choudhury is an internationally renowned Yoga teacher from India, who has taught over three million students. He took his system to the United States in 1971, at the invitation of the American Medical Association.

Born in Calcutta, Bikram began studying Yoga at the age of four with his teacher Bishnu Ghosh, brother of Paramahansa Yogananda (author of “Autobiography of a Yogi”, and founder of the Self Realization Fellowship). Bikram practiced Yoga four to six hours a day with six thousand other students at Ghosh’s College of Physical Education in Calcutta. At the age of thirteen, he won the National India Yoga contest and remained undefeated for three years. At the request of his teacher, he withdrew from competition and gave Yoga demonstrations instead. This earned him the title of “Yoga-Raj”. He is the youngest ever to earn such a title.

As a young man he was a top cyclist, marathon runner and international weight lifter, competing in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. At the age of 20, Bikram severely injured his knee in a weightlifting accident and was told by doctors he would never walk again. Not accepting this, Bikram went back to Bishnu Ghosh’s school, for he knew that if anyone could help to heal his knee, it would be his teacher. Bishnu Ghosh put him through a slow and careful therapy program that totally rehabilitated his knee within 6 months. Ghosh was a celebrated physical culturist, and the first to scientifically document Yoga’s ability to cure chronic physical ailments and heal the body.

Bikram was asked by Ghosh to start several Yoga schools in India. Bikram came into his own. The schools were so successful that, at Bishnu’s request, Bikram travelled to Japan and opened two more. Under the guidance of his teacher, Bikram worked for three years with doctors and scientists at Tokyo University Hospital and developed his unique Hatha yoga program. He has since brought his curative methods of Yoga therapy around the world.

All Bikram’s Yoga teachers are required to complete an intensive 500-hour certification process in Los Angeles, and be approved, before they are allowed to conduct classes.

For more information, see Bikram’s official website at the www.bikramyoga.com

Disclaimer: The benefits suggested for Bikram’s Yoga are based on scientific and anecdotal evidence of improvement in many conditions - both chronic and acute - that have been witnessed by medical staff, teachers or students over many years of practicing Bikram’s Yoga. They should not be construed as a guarantee that these benefits will definitely occur for all yoga students. Consistent practice will always be the best approach. Use your own body wisdom.

This information is not intended to replace advice from your medical practitioner or natural therapies practitioner.

The therapeutic, curative, preventive, and overall health benefits of Bikram’s Yoga are legendary. Since Bikram’s 3 year Research Project with Doctors at the Tokyo University Medical School (Japan, 1970-73), studying the effects of Yoga, countless people have practiced Bikram’s Yoga to overcome chronic problems of all kinds. ( Please click here for Testimonials ) It takes practice, consistency, and a determination not to give up and to "try the right way," to gain the full life-enhancing effects of the Yoga practice. With Bikram’s Yoga, you develop the foundation for anything you want to achieve and maintain in life: athletically, professionally, physically, mentally, intellectually, emotionally, spiritually.

You will be encouraged to challenge yourself to improve, make better, and maintain your health, your spine, and your life. Bikram’s teacher, Bishnu Ghosh, said "Never too late, never too old, never too bad" and Bikram added "never too sick... to start from scratch once again.";